STEP BY STEP PHOTO TO SQUIGGLES
Transform a face into a doodle by using Photoshop masks and brushes
01 CUT OUT THE PORTRAIT
Open the portrait, then double-click the background layer to make it editable. Go to Select>subject, then hit Cmd/ctrl+j to copy to a new layer. Highlight the bottom layer then click the Create Adjustment Layer icon in the Layers panel and choose Solid Color. Choose a cream colour for the backdrop.
02 START SCRIBBLING
Highlight the top layer, then hold Alt and click the Add Layer Mask icon to hide the layer behind a mask. Grab the Brush tool and hit D to set the colour to white. Go to the Brush picker at the top and choose an erodible pencil tip for your brush. Start scribbling to gradually reveal the portrait.
03 ADJUST YOUR BRUSH
If you’re using a mouse for your scribbling try increasing the Smoothing in the brush settings for smoother curved lines. Scribble around the edges of the face, using broad strokes for smooth areas and finer strokes for parts like the eyes that need more detail. Once done, Lower the layer opacity slightly.
04 MAKE MORE LAYERS
Duplicate the layer with Cmd/ctrl+j. We can build up the effect on a second layer. Either right-click the mask and delete it then scribble again, or click the link between layer and mask to unlink then highlight the mask and go to Edit>transform>warp. Reshape the layer mask to vary the scribble effect.
05 ADD WATERCOLOUR SPLASHES
Continue building up the effect on layers until it looks done. Next, highlight the Solid Color layer at the bottom and make an empty layer above it. Grab the Brush tool and choose a watercolour brush tip. Hold Alt and click to sample a colour from the image, then paint watercolour splashes around the edges.
06 FINISH OFF
Make another layer and paint a few more watercolour splashes, then add a black mask and scribble as with the portrait layers. Finally, add a layer at the top of the stack then sample colours and paint a few more random scribbles on top of everything. Make any tonal changes you like to finish off.